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Hearing Aids Without a Prescription - What Does This Mean?
Hearing Loss | Last Active: Nov 17, 2023 | Replies (24)Comment receiving replies
I have just joined this group. I have been wearing OTC hearing (amplifiers) devices for two years. At first they seemed ok but they do not work well at all in large room settings with lots of people talking. I can't understand a thing anyone is saying, nor can I understand a speaker who is talking with or without a microphone. I tend to stay away from group settings because of this. My devices came from a propular OTC hearing device manufacturer and sell several different devices ....Mine cost me $600 for the pair, have three volumne controlls and four settings that don't seem to change anything with any given circumstances. I cannot afford aids that cost thousands, like most seniors I'm sure. Any advice on OTC products or has anyone encountered this problem and been able to come up with a solution. Thanks so much for your help.....glad I found this support group.
Replies to "I have just joined this group. I have been wearing OTC hearing (amplifiers) devices for two..."
Welcome to the hearing loss support group babs37.
Hearing loss is complicated and there is no 'one size fits all'. What works well for one person may not work for another. With all hearing aids, OTC or prescriptive it's very important to know what kind of trial period is granted with that product before you buy it. You should have the right to try the device(s) in all the situations where you want to use them. Some of the OTC products have very short trial times; others don't. That information should be written on the box of the product.
It's important to understand that "FDA approval" basically means these devices are safe to use. It doesn't not guarantee their effectiveness.
OTC devices are being developed by a variety of companies; some are well known while others are not. Prices range from under $100 to over $1000. Some of the places that sell them have staff trained to help, others do not.
A solution for some is to purchase hearing aids at a big box store like Sam's Club or Costco. They do train their hearing instrument specialists. Their products are prescriptive for the most part and are priced in the $1500 range for a pair which is substantially lower than those sold by clinical providers.
It's also important to keep in mind that OTC devices are not intended for people who have severe hearing loss. The prescriptive kind may be your best bet regardless of price. It would not hurt to try them. Know they can be returned, but understand the provider's policy.
It's a shame that hearing instruments are so rarely insured. The OTC movement is a result of that.
The website of the Hearing Loss Assn. of America (HLAA) has a great deal of information. Are you aware of HLAA? http://www.hearingloss.org
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Take a look at the ClearCast hearing device. It is an FDA registered assistive listening device specifically designed for the situations you describe - trouble hearing in crows, difficulty understanding a speaker, etc.